Pocket section of a head and pocket fastener



1956 1.. ROSEMAN EFAL POCKET SECTION OF A HEAD AND POCKET FASTENER Filed Nov. 17, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 in /wmm My W i 1 a g 6 w a, M MW H a 21, 1956 L ROSEMAN EIAL POCKET SECTION OF A HEAD AND POCKET FASTENER Filed Nov; 17, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 asaim Aug. 21, 1956 1.. ROSEMAN ETAL. 2,759,193

POCKET SECTION OF A HEAD AND POCKET FASTENER Filed Nov. 17 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /0 xz/ i Aug. 21, 1956 ROSEMAN EI'AL POCKET SECTION OF A HEAD AND POCKET FASTENER Filed Nov. 17 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 6 POCKET SECTION OF A HEAD AND POCKET FASTENER Leo Rpseman, Newark, and Richard J. Roseman, Union Township, Hunterdon County, N. J.

Application November 17, 1951, 'Serial No. 256,921

Claims. (Cl. 2-265) This invention relates especially to fasteners for garments such as corsets, brassieres, shirts, and the like but the lnvention may be embodied in fasteners for other purposes.

The most commonly used garment fasteners are of four types, namely, the hook and eye fastener, the head and socket fastener, the slide operated or zipper fastener and the button and button hole fastener.

Fasteners of the hook and eye type, the head and socket type and the button hole type have several disadvantages among which are protuberances caused by the fastener elements, and bulkiness due to overlapping of the fastener sections or garment edges, both of which are uncomfortable to the wearer. Furthermore, it is frequently difficult to connect and disconnect the complemental fastener elements, and the operation is slow and tedious. Puckering of the garment is often caused by the zipper fastener, the fastener is frequently stiff and is often diflicult, if not impossible to operate, especially in tight fitting garments; and the slider of the fastener causes a protuberance which is visible beneath thin outer garments.

In our co-pending application Serial No. 251,684, filed October 17, 1951, there is described a fastener which overcomes the above-mentioned difiiculties and disadvantages, permits a thin, flat edge to each fastening of the edges of a garment opening or the like and has complemental pocket and head fastener elements that are easily and quickly connectable and disconnectable and locked against accidental disconnection.

The fastener of said application comprises an elongated pocket section having flexible fabric pockets spaced longitudinally thereof and opening through the face of the section, and a second or head element section having relatively rigid head or hook fastener elements projecting from an edge of the section and separably cooperative with said pockets.

A prime object of the present invention is to provide for a fastener of the general character described, a novel and improved pocket section comprising a fabric strip having pockets opening through one face thereof opposite inwardly projecting flange portions forming a mouth between them for the head of a head element through which said head can be inserted into the pocket beneath said flange portions, and abutment elements against which the head of said head element shall abut when said head is locked in the pocket to connect the fastener sections together.

Another object is to provide such a pocket section wherein said abutment element shall comprise stitches extending through said flange portions of the pocket closely adjacent the mouth of the pocket.

A further object is to provide such a pocket section wherein said abutments are arranged at opposite sides of the mouth of the pocket so that a T-shaped head element having a stem or shank will engage said abutments at points intermediate the stem or shank and the extermities of the head of said head element whereby the head 2,759,195 Patented Aug. 21, 1956 ice element may rock or twist to compensate for relative movement of the fastener sections that might be incident to movements of the body on which the garment is worn, and at least one abutment for said head element shall be provided at all times while said fastener elements are connected and under tension tending to separate them.

Still another object is to provide a pocket section of this character wherein the mouths of the pockets shall be small and inconspicuous, wherein a maximum of strength can be obtained with a minimum of abutment stitches and wherein the strain imposed on the pocket section by the head element shall be concentrated at the strongest points in the pocket section.

Other objects, advantages and results of the invention will be brought out by the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a fastener embodying the invention secured to the edge portion of a garment;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the fastener illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the two sections of the fastener in separated relation;

Figures 3a and 3b are enlarged sectional views on the planes of the respective lines 3a3a and 3b-3b of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan View of the pocket section of the fastener showing a modification of the invention;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating another form of the invention;

Figure 6 is a view like Figure 3 showing the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the plane of the line 77 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on the plane of the line 88 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a horizontal view, approximately on the plane of the line 99 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a view like Figure 1 showing another form of the invention;

Figure 11 is similar to Figure 2 but illustrating the form of the invention shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is similar to Figure 3 but showing the fastener of Figure 11;

Figure13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional perspective View of the pocket section or tape shown in Figures 10 to 12 inclusive;

Figures 14 and 15 are vertical sectional views on the planes of the lines 1414 and 1515, respectively of Figure 11;

Figure 16 is a bottom plan view of another form of fastener embodying the invention;

Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 16 but illustrating the two sections of the fastener in separated relation;

Figures 18 and 19 are vertical sectional views, approximately on the planes of the lines 18-18 and 19-19, respectively of Figure 16;

Figure 20 is a sectional perspective view of another form of pocket tape;

Figures 21 to 24 inclusive are fragmentary top plan views of the fastener sections as illustrated in Figure 2, showing the manner of inserting a head element into a pocket;

Figure 25 is a fragmentary top plan View of a modification of the pocket section;

Figure 26 is a similar view of another modification of the invention;

Figures 27 and 28 are sectional perspective views of a few other forms of the invention;

Figure 29 is a fragmentary top plan view of another embodiment of the invention;

Figures 30 and 31 are fragmentary top plan views of the pocket section and head element section, respectively, of the fastener shown in Figure 29;

Figure 32 is a sectional perspective view of the pocket section shown :in Figure 30.;

Figure .33 is a fragmentary top plan view of .a pocket section constructed in accordance another modification (of the invention and showing [the mannerof inserting the head element into pocket;

Figure .34 is'a similar view showing the head element completely inserted into the pocket;

Figure 35 is .a fragmentary bottom plan view of the pocket-section;

Figure 36 is -a xtransversesectional vie-w approximately on the plane of the line 36-36 of Figure 34 and Figure .37 is a fragmentary top plan view of the pocket section with portions broken away in horizontal section on the plane :of the line.37I-3.7 of Figure 36.

The fastener contemplates in general two sections, one having .a plurality of pockets which may be formed in and spaced longitudinally of a fabric tape or may be formed directly in the marginal portions of a garment, while the other section has a plurality of head fastener elements spaced longitudinally of -a fabric tape or the edge of a garment, each to cooperate with one of the pockets.

More particularly the fastenerof the invention includes flat T-shaped fastener elements extending beyond the edge .of the corresponding fastener section, to cooperate with the corresponding pocket sections which open through one face of the corresponding tape or the face of the garment and have abutrnents in spaced relation to the edge of the tape or garment for the arms of the T-shaped head elements and also have overhanging or inwardly projecting edge portions or flanges so that the ends of the heads of the head elements may be inserted into the pockets beneath said edge portions and in abutting relation to .said abutments. The head elements are held against accidental displacement from their pockets by the overhanging edge portions or flanges, and the two sections of the fastener or the ,garment edges areiheld against being pulled apart by engagement of the head elements with said abutments.

The pockets may be of different construction as may also the head elements, and in Figures 1 to 3:1 inclusive, is

illustrated one preferred embodiment of the invention.

The reference characters A and 'B designate respectively the-headelement section and the pocket section, these sections being in the form of fabric tapes that are applied as by stitching to the marginal portions C and D of a garment.

The tape comprising the head element section A 'is shown as .comprisingaplurality of layers orp'lies offabric, for example, cotton textile fabric, on which and spaced longitudinally thereof are secured T-shaped head elements E which project from one edge of the tape as best shown in Figure 3. Preferably each head element is formed of .a single .pieceof wire bent 'to provide a stem or shank portion comprising two spaced and parallel lengths 1 of the wire at one end of which is the head '2 in the form of a loop. The other end of the shankhas abase portion comprising loops 3 which is arranged between opposed plies of the tape and secured to the tape by any suitable means as by lines of stitches 4. However, the head elements may be formed of a single piece of sheet metal as shown 'at E in Figures 21 to .23 inclusive. Each head element is in general flat and lies approximately in the plane of the tape with the head in spaced relation to the edge of the tape. The tape A issecured on and extends longitudinally of one of the marginal portions C and 'D of the garment with one edge approximately coincident with the garment edge, the tape being fastened on the garment in any suitable man-neras by lines of stitches.

The tape comprising the section B also includes a plurality of layers of fabric and has a plurality of pockets F spaced longitudinally thereof corresponding to the spacing of the head elements E and opening through one face of the tape. The two tapes A and B may be applied to either face of the garment but preferably are applied to the inner face so that the :pockets and head elements will be concealed when the fastener sections are connected together and the garment is applied to the body. The pockets F are shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive as formed by folding or doubling of the tape upon itself at longitudinally spaced points to form box pleats. More particularly and as shown in Figure 3a, for forming each pocket the tape is folded in one direction transversely upon itself as indicated at 5 and is then folded in the opposite direction as indicated at 6 so as to provide two folds 7 in spaced relation to each other transversely of the strip that provide edge portions, lips or flanges for the pocket overlying the bottom of the pocket and forming between them an opening or mouth for the pocket. The width of the mouth between the lips or flanges 7 is substantially less while the VflldithtQf the pocket at its bottom is greater than the overall length of the head of one of the head elements so that said head can be slipped beneath said edge portions as shown in Figures 2 and 30.

Each of the pockets :has abutments for the head of a head element in spaced relation to the edge of the tape B that is coincident with {the edge of the corresponding garment section C or These abutments may be of various forms, for example, superposed stitches as shown in the drawings, or staples or metal eyelets but :in all cases, preferably they secure all :of the plies of the tape together at the edge portions of the corresponding pocket as best shown in Figure 3b. .Also the plies .of fabric of the tape are secured together :by longitudinal lines of stitches '8 and 9 that :may be formed in a continuous operation with the superposed stitches G. The line of stitches '9 is spaced lengthwise of the pockets F from the superposed abutment stitches G and .the line of stitches 8,, and includes stitches '95: that may or may not be superposed but which firmly secure the edge portions '7 'of the pockets to the other [plies of the tape in the same manner as do the stitches G. The distance between the stitches "G and 9a is ijnstisufficient to permit the head .of the head element to be inserted into the pocket beneath the :edge portions 7 when the :head is turned diagonally to :the longitudinal edges of the tape as shown in Figures 2 1 to 23, and the stitches 9a and G thus cooperate to hold the head element against accidental displacement from the pocket during the alternate application and release of tension on the fastener which tends 'to cause the head element to move lengthwise of the pocket "when the garment is being WOT-Ii. The width of the opening -or mouth of the pocket between the edge portions 7 is somewhat greater than the stem 1 of the head element so that *the latter may enter between the edge portions '7 when the head element is insertedinto the pocket and said edge portions restrain the head element against lateral movement. The tape B may be secured to the garment as by lines of stitches 10.

The operation of the fastener will be apparent from the foregoing. \Vhen the fastener sections are separated as shown in Figure .3 and it is desired to connect them or close the fastener, the heads 2 of the head elements are inserted into the respective pockets in succession, each "head being twisted diagonally to the Ledge portions :of the pocket tape and to the longitudinal edges of the pocket mouth and the head element then being tilted slightly obliquely to the plane of the pocket tape alternately in opposite directions to facilitate the slipping -of the ends of the head -beneath the respective edge portions 7 7 of the pocket as illustrated :in Figures 21 10 24 inclusive and 2. It will be observed that the 'whole head element including head, shank, and base lies in a flat plane and is turned while-it -is approximately in the plane of the tape, as distinguished from the operation of but- (tons and button holes and head and socket snap fasteners.

Then the tension on the fastener sections tending to pull them apart, will draw the heads of the head elements into abutting relation to the abutment elements G as shown in Figures 2 and 3b. It will be noted that the abutment elements engage the head elements at points intermediate the stem or shank 1 and the extremities of the head so that the head elements may rock or twist to compensate for relative movements of the fastener sections that might be incident to movements of the body on which the garment is worn. To separate the head elements from the pockets, the head elements are again turned with their heads oblique to the edges of the tape after which the head is turned alternately in opposite directions obliquely to the plane of the tape to permit withdrawal successively of the portions of the head from the pocket. Rapid disconnection of the head elements from the pocket in one continuous operation can be effected by simply pulling apart the edge portions of the garment from one end toward the other, similar to the movement incident to tearing paper. 7

It is desirable to have the abutments spaced inwardly from the edge of the tape and from the line of stitches 8 both to provide the rocking action above mentioned and also to prevent breaking of the stitches 8 by the end portions of the heads of the head elements; although the stitches may be arranged in different ways; for example in the manner in which the abutment stitches G are related to the line of stitches 8 in Figure 3 or as the abutment stitches H are arranged with respect to the longitudinal line of stitches 11 in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4 the other line of stitches 12 for fastening the edge portions of the pockets I may be formed without superposed stitches corresponding to the stitches 9a.

Another modification of the invention is shown in Figures 5 to 9 inclusive where the pocket tape K is formed of a strip of fabric having its edge portions folded inwardly as indicated at 12 and secured to the main portion by stitches 13 which may also be used for fastening the tape to the garment edge portion L. Each pocket is formed of a pair of parallel strips secured to the tape in spaced relation to each other corresponding to the edge portions 7 of the pockets hereinbefore described so that the head elements E may be inserted between and beneath the strips 14 for connecting the pocket tape K to the head element tape A. Abutment stitches M corresponding to the stitches G and H may be formed in the same operation with the stitches 13.

Another modification of the invention is shown in Figures to 15 inclusive where the head element tape is identical to the tape A above described but the pocket tape N comprises a body strip 15 of fabric on which are secured auxiliary strips 16 having theiredge portions infolded between the main portions of the strips '15 and 16 as indicated at 17 to form edges of pockets 0 that have suitable abutments such as the stitches 18 corresponding to the abutments G. The head elements are inserted beneath the folded edge portions 17 just as they are beneath the edge portions 7 of the pockets F; and the operation of the fastener is the same as that shown in Figures 21 to 24 inclusive.

Still another form of the invention is shown in Figures 16 and 17 where the head element tape A is the same as that hereinbefore described but the pocket tape P comprises one or more plies of fabric in at least one of which is an elongated opening 19 that opens through the face of the tape and is spaced inwardly from the edge of the tape as best shown in Figure 17. Adjacent the edges of the opening 19 and intermediate the length of the opening are abutments 20 that may constitute superposed stitches traversing the edges of the opening and penetrating the plies of the tape. In operation of this form of invention to connect the fastener sections, one end of a head element will be inserted into a corresponding pocket opening 19 and then the head element will be turned obliquely to the edge of the tape G whereupon the other end inserted into a pocket. Obviously the width of the pocket opening 19 will be less than the head of the head element and the length of the pocket opening between the abutments 20 and the inner end of the opening will be adequate to permit the insertion of the head element into the opening.

Figure 20 shows a further modification of the invention wherein the pocket tape Q is in general the same as that shown in Figures 16 and 17, but the abutment stitches 21 are disposed in endwise relation instead of parallel relation to the head of said element.

In Figures 25 and 26, instead of stitches for the abutments, staples 22 and metal eyelets 23, respectively, are utilized, the staple and the eyelets preferably penetrating plies of the tape.

Figure 27 shows another form of the invention in general similar to that of Figure 17, the main difference being that stitches 24 overlap the edges of the pocket mouth 25 in spaced relation tothe abutment stitches 26 which correspond to the stitches 20 of Figure 17.

Figure 28 is similar to Figure 27 but shows the pocket strip R formed of a plurality of four plies of fabric similar to the pocket sections B and stitches 27 corresponding to the stitches 10 of Figure 1 do not overlap the edges of the pocket mouth 28.

Figures 29 to 32, inclusive, show another form of the invention wherein the pocket section S is formed of a plurality of plies of material as best shown in Figure 32 and has a plurality of pockets 29 spaced longitudinally thereof and opening through the face of the section. The head element section T comprises a suitable tape at one end of which is a T-shaped head element 30 which may be identical with the head elements E. The two sections S and Tare intended to be connected in superposed relation as shown in Figure 29 with the head element insertable into the pocket 29 in the same manner in which the head elements E are insertable into the pockets 19 of Figure 16. Abutment stitches 31 similar to the stitches 21 of Figure 20 are shown, but obivously other types of abutments could be utilized. This construction permits the two fastener sections to be adjusted relatively longitudinally instead of laterally of each other as in the forms shown in for example the forms of Figures 1 to 3 inclusive.

Figures 33 to 37 inclusive illustrate another modification of the invention wherein the pocket section U comprises a strip of fabric having its opposite longitudinal edge portions 32 folded inwardly over the main portion of the strip forming flanges with their edges in closely spaced relation to provide a pocket mouth between said edges, and abutment stitches 33 are spacedlongitudinally of the fastener section, penetrating all plies of the section and overlapping the edges of the infolded'portions 32 so as to form closely spaced pockets V for a head element W which is shown as formed of a single piece of metal but may be formed of wire and has a shank 34 and a head 35 at one end of the shank and a loop 36 at the other end of the shank for connection to a tape 37 to provide the head element section of the fastener. The abutment stitches 33 may be formed as ofiset stitches in a continuous line of stitching 38, or can be produced in any other suitable way. Also other types of abutments might be used, such as staples or eyelets.

The abutments are so located that they engage the head elements at points intermediate the shank 34 and the extremities of the head 35 as shown in Figure 37 so that the head elements may lock or twist to compensate for relative lateral movements of the fastener sections. This construction also places the stitches in spaced relation to the folded edges of the fastener section so that the head element can be turned diagonally to the longitudinal edges of the fastener section as shown in Figure 33 and one end of the head positioned beyond of the head element will Be the. adjacent abutment stitches, as shown in Figure 33, after which the other end of the head can he slipped beneath the opposite infolded portions. 32 to compl t ly insert the head element into the pocket as shown in Figure 34. This arrangement makes it possible to locate the abutments 33" close together as Shown, the distance between adjacent abutments being less than the length of the head 35 of the head element, If desired, the abutment stitches 33 at one side of the mouth of the pocket may. be extended outwardly to the edge of the strip U and the stitches 38.might run along the edge of the strip. The abutment stitches 33 at the other side of'the pocket may terminate short of'the edges of the fastener section as shown in Figure 33 so as to facilitate the insertion of the head element into the pocket as shown in Fig ure 33.

Obviously instead of the infolded edge portions 32 of the strip, separate strips could be applied. to a bottom. strip with their edge portions in spaced relation to each other to form the pocket mouths.

The formation of the head element of wire is advantageous because of the lightness and flexibility of the wire and the small amount of metal involved therein, and the head 2 and the two spaced parallel portions. of the shank resiliently yield upon application of tension in opposite direction to the two fastener sections and at the same time the two portions of the shank are held in spaced side-by-side relation and prevented from becoming superposed and entangled.

In all forms of the invention it will be noted that the edge portions or flanges of the pockets extend inwardly from opposite edges of the pocket openings and form months for the pockets throughwhich the heads of the head elements. are inserted; and. that the length and width of the mouths of thepockets are such that the head elements can be inserted into and removed from the pockets only when the heads are obliquely disposed to the longitudinal edge of the tape.

While several of the now preferred embodiments havebeen shown and described it should be understood that this is primarily for the purpose of illustrating the principle of the invention and that the construction of the fastener may be widely modified and changed withinthe scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A pocket fastener section for coaetion with a head fastener element having a shank and a head in T-shaped relation, said fastener section comprising a strip of flexible material including a plurality of superposed plies-ofmaterial secured together and providing an elongated pocket between them of a width greater than the length ofthe head of such a head element and having an elongate mouth extending, longitudinally of said pocket and opening centrally of the width of the pocket through one face of said strip, said mouth being of a width substantially less than the width of the pocket and of the length of the head of such av head element, and an abutment for said head connected to all: of said superposed plies and extendingtherebetween in said pocket close to each longitudinal edge ofsaid'mouth', whereby the head of the head element may be connected to said pocket section by inserting the head ofthe head-element endwise through said mouth diagonally thereof and into said pocket and then turning the head in its own plane into a position approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of said mouth and abutting said abutrnents.

2: A pocket fastener section as defined in claim 17 wherein said stripof flexible material comprises a main portion and at least two plies of material in overlying relation to said main portion to form said pocket between them and each of-said" plies has one edge in parallel relation to one longitudinal edge of the other and spaced therefrom a distance less than the length of the head of said-T-shaped fastener element to form said mouth so 'that said head can he slipped between and beneath said plies, and each abutment is disposed adjacent one of said edges of said plieswith the abutment at one of said edges opposite the abutment on the other edge and extending between-and connected to said plies and to said main portion.

wherein said strip of fiexiblematerial comprises a piece of material folded or doubled upon itself into a box pleat vwith two= folded edges in juxtaposed spaced relation to eachotherand forming betweenthem the mouth of the pocket, and each-abutment comprises a plurality of superposed stitches penetrating all of' the plies of the strip at said folded'portions. with portions of the stitches traversing said folded edges.

5. A pocket fastener section as defined in claim 1 wherein said-pocket at one end extends beyond said abut- I ments and each-abutment is of a length less than the distance between the shank andthe extremities of the head of such a: head element so that the abutments engage saidhead betweensaid" extremities and said shank when the head iscompl'etely in the pocket to provide for rocking of the head element on said abutments.

ReferencesCited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 622,349 Halstenbach Apr. 4, 1899. 1,831,616 Zimmerer et a1 Nov. 10, 1931 2,375,745 Alfandre May 15, 19.45 

